It was eerie watching the crisp morning sunlight fade into a subdued haze and the city of Townsville was unusually quiet as the moon passed between the earth and the sun.

North Queensland missed out on a total solar eclipse, but the 96 percent eclipse was spectacular enough for locals who massed on top of Castle Hill, along The Strand and in Townsville's hillier locations to view the phenomenon.

Townsville Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Greg Connor says during the eclipse the temperature in Townsville dropped by about half a degree, although it may have felt quite a bit cooler as people would have been out of direct sun.

Townsville resident Kent and his family ascended Mount Stuart south of Townsville to view the eclipse.

He says about 100 people were at the Mount Stuart lookout and more were stopped at various points up the mountain.

"I was surprised, we looked through the glasses and we saw that there was only the tiniest little crescent left, and yet it was as bright as day."